Aryl compounds and polymers and methods of making and using the same

Abstract

Disclosed herein are embodiments of aryl compounds and polymers thereof that are made using methods that do not require harsh conditions or expensive reagents. The methods disclosed herein utilize precursor compounds that can be polymerized to form polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polymers, such as carbon-based polymers like nanostructures (e.g., graphene or graphene-like nanoribbons).

We claim: 
     
         1 . A compound, having a structure: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein: 
         each R 1  is independently a heteroaliphatic moiety comprising at least one carbon atom and one to five sulfur atoms within the heteroaliphatic moiety; 
         each R a  independently is selected from an ether, a -(poly)ethylene glycol, or an aryl group substituted with one or more functional groups selected from aliphatic, amine, or nitro; and 
         m is an integer ranging from 2 to 200. 
       
     
     
         2 . The compound of  claim 1 , wherein the heteroaliphatic moiety comprises at least one carbon atom and one or two sulfur atoms. 
     
     
         3 . The compound of  claim 1 , wherein each R 1  independently is a thiol. 
     
     
         4 . The compound of  claim 1 , wherein each R 1  independently is a thioether. 
     
     
         5 . The compound of  claim 1 , wherein each R a  independently is: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         or 
         an electron-donating group. 
       
     
     
         6 . The compound of  claim 5 , wherein the electron-donating group is an alkoxy group. 
     
     
         7 . A compound, having a structure: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein: 
         each R 1  is independently a heteroaliphatic moiety selected from a thiol or a thioether; 
         each R a  independently is selected from an ether, a -(poly)ethylene glycol, or an aryl group substituted with one or more functional groups selected from alkyne, amine, or nitro; and 
         m is an integer ranging from 2 to 200. 
       
     
     
         8 . The compound of  claim 7 , wherein each R a  independently is: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         or 
         an electron-donating group. 
       
     
     
         9 . The compound of  claim 8 , wherein the electron-donating group is an alkoxy group.